Apparatus with removable reusable pressurized airtight container

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of an apparatus with mobile reusable airtight container assembly (10) which utilizes pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas for long term preservation of the freshness of roasted coffee beans or grounds in terms of aroma and taste, utilizes a system of an electronic controller (250), pressure switch (170), gas delivery valve (180), check valve (50) and vent valve (160) to create a pressurized environment of inert gas or CO2 gas and low residual oxygen and moisture concentrations within the airtight container assembly (10). An airtight lid (20) with pressure seal (220) covers the airtight container assembly (10) and creates a reusable system whereby the user can remove a portion of the roasted coffee beans or grounds as often as needed in order to brew coffee without degrading the long term freshness of the roasted coffee beans or grounds stored within the airtight container assembly (10). A two stage opening mechanism (40) prevents uncontrolled opening of the airtight lid (20) while the airtight container assembly (10) is pressurized. The check valve (50) enables the mobile aspect whereby the airtight container assembly (10) can be removed from and replaced back on a control system (260) as many times as desired by the user, while maintaining the optimum storage condition of pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas with low residual oxygen and moisture concentrations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent applicationSer. No. 62/180,051, filed 2015 Jun. 16 by the present inventors.

BACKGROUND

This application relates to an apparatus with an airtight containerassembly that can be pressurized with gas and is mobile and reusable.Particularly, the apparatus can be applied to preserving the freshnessof roasted coffee beans or grounds.

PRIOR ART

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appearsrelevant:

Pat. No. Issue Date Patentee U.S. Patent 6,337,098 2002 Jan. 8 Spencer,et al. Foreign Patents EP1879487 B1 2008 Aug. 20 Illy, Francesco

NONPATENT LITERATURE DOCUMENT

-   Illy, et al., Espresso Coffee, The Science of Quality, Elsevier    Academic Press, 2011.

Fresh roasted coffee beans or grounds exhibit a pleasant aroma andproduce brewed coffee that has a fine aroma and taste. Unfortunately,when exposed to air as is the case when stored in commonly availablebags or containers, the fresh roasted coffee beans or grounds willexperience degradation, known as staling, of their pleasant aroma andability to produce a high quality aroma and taste in brewed coffee. Thisstaling takes place over a relatively short period of time, typically onthe order of two weeks after the roasting process is completed.

Staling, is due to several chemical and physical changes that take placewithin the fresh roasted coffee beans or grounds upon exposure to air. Avery good description of the mechanisms responsible for staling as wellas conditions under which the staling rate can be significantly reduced,is given by Nicoli and Savonitti, Espresso Coffee, pages 230-255. Thetwo most prominent mechanisms pointed out by Nicoli and Savonitti asbeing responsible for the staling of freshly roasted coffee beans orgrounds when exposed to air, are:

-   1. The release of volatile aroma compounds and CO2, which were    formed during the roasting process, from the coffee beans or    grounds.-   2. Oxidation of volatile aroma compounds and lipids within the    coffee beans or grounds.

The best technique for reducing the rate of staling of fresh roastedcoffee beans or grounds, as pointed out by Savonitti, Espresso Coffee,page 253 Table 6.6, is storage under pressure with low residual oxygenconcentration.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment, an apparatus with a mobile reusableairtight container assembly that can be subjected to an automatedprocedure of pressurization and vent cycles with a final pressurizationstep utilizing inert gas or CO2 gas in order to obtain the optimumstorage condition for fresh roasted coffee beans or grounds ofpressurized inert gas or CO2 gas and a specific low concentration ofoxygen along with low moisture concentration, is used to maintainfreshness of roasted coffee beans or grounds. The apparatus comprises anairtight container assembly of sufficient volume to store amounts offresh roasted coffee beans or grounds typically required by consumers orcommercial users, an airtight lid for the airtight container assembly, alatch or means for connecting the airtight lid with the airtightcontainer assembly, a safety mechanism for the latch requiring a twostage opening motion that prevents uncontrolled opening of the airtightlid by venting the pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas from the airtightcontainer assembly after the first stage motion before fully opening theairtight lid in the second stage motion in case of accidental openingwhile the airtight container assembly is pressurized, a high pressuresupply of inert gas or CO2 gas connected to the airtight containerassembly, a check valve that can be engaged for the purposes of allowingtwo way gas flow and pressure sensing in order to perform the automatedsequence of pressurization and vent cycles with a final pressurizationstep, and disengaged to allow sealing in order to maintain pressurewhile allowing for mobility of the airtight container assembly, acontrol system to automatically and consistently perform the sequence ofpressurization and vent cycles with a final pressurization step thatcreates the optimum storage condition within the airtight container ofpressurized inert gas or CO2 gas and a specific low concentration ofoxygen along with low moisture concentration, as frequently as requiredby the user due to opening the airtight container assembly in order tofill the airtight container assembly with fresh roasted coffee beans orgrounds, or to remove a portion of the roasted coffee beans or groundsin order to brew coffee, levers or latches which constitute means tosecure the airtight container assembly to the control system, aprotruding feature at the interface of the control system and airtightcontainer assembly which constitutes means to engage and activate thecheck valve for pressure sensing and two way gas flow when the airtightcontainer assembly is secured to the control system. These featuresenable the user to keep their fresh roasted coffee beans or groundsstored at the optimum condition, thus maintaining freshness in terms ofaroma and taste for a significantly longer period of time than ispossible with conventional storage means. The apparatus is simple to useand has few moving parts, thus is reliable and cost effective.

Advantages

From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodimentsof the present apparatus with mobile reusable airtight containerassembly that utilizes pressurized gas for maintaining freshness ofroasted coffee beans or grounds become evident:

-   (a) The apparatus can store roasted coffee beans or grounds under    pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas with low residual oxygen and    moisture concentrations. This counteracts the staling mechanisms    described above since pressure reduces the rate of outgassing of    volatile aroma compounds and CO2 from the roasted coffee beans or    grounds and the low residual oxygen and moisture concentrations    reduce the rate oxidation of the volatile aroma compounds and lipids    within the roasted coffee beans or grounds, thus significantly    reducing the rate of staling of fresh roasted coffee beans or    grounds.-   (b) The apparatus automatically performs the sequence of    pressurization and vent cycles with a final pressurization step    which enables consistent and repeatable performance for the optimum    storage condition for fresh roasted coffee beans or grounds of    pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas and a specific low concentration of    oxygen along with low moisture concentration.-   (c) The apparatus allows for safe usage of the airtight container    assembly which operates with pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas. This    is enabled by the unique latch assembly design which requires a two    stage opening motion that vents the pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas    from the airtight container assembly in the first stage of latch    motion, then allows the user to fully open the airtight lid in the    second stage of latch motion. This prevents uncontrolled opening of    the airtight container assembly in case of accidental opening while    the airtight container assembly is pressurized due to a user not    following the proper operating procedure of venting the airtight    container assembly prior to opening.-   (d) The mobility for the airtight container assembly enabled by the    check valve that can be engaged to enable pressure sensing and two    way gas flow in order to perform the automated gas pressurization    and vent sequence with a final pressurization step, and disengaged    to allow sealing in order to maintain pressure when removing the    airtight container assembly from the control system allows for    storage of as much fresh roasted coffee beans or grounds as desired    by the user through the use of multiple airtight container    assemblies.-   (e) The mobility enabled by the check valve described in section (c)    above also will enable the user to purchase fresh roasted coffee    beans or grounds at a coffee house of their choosing and have these    transferred into an airtight container assembly or several airtight    container assemblies at the coffee house, then processed to the    optimum storage condition of pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas and    low residual oxygen and moisture concentrations by a control system    and inert gas or CO2 tank that can be located at any coffee house,    in order to transport the newly purchased fresh roasted coffee beans    or grounds to their place of usage such as the home or office,    without loss of freshness.-   (f) Since the mobile airtight container assembly is reusable, the    user can open the airtight container assembly often as desired to    remove a portion of the roasted coffee beans or grounds in order to    brew coffee that will have high quality aroma and taste. This is    very cost effective in that the user is no longer restricted to    purchasing brewed coffee at a high end coffee house in order to    drink fresh coffee with high quality aroma and taste. Another cost    effective aspect of the present apparatus is that there will be no    need to discard roasted coffee beans or grounds that were not used    before becoming stale. The apparatus is also efficient from a time    perspective since the consumer can brew fresh coffee at their home    or office, as frequently as desired, that will have high quality    aroma and taste, thus removing the requirement for the consumer to    visit a high end coffee house each time they wish to enjoy fresh    brewed coffee with high quality aroma and taste.

DRAWINGS Figures

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus with mobile reusableairtight container assembly which utilizes pressurized gas to maintainfreshness of roasted coffee beans or grounds in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the airtight lid and a pressureseal that is contained within a groove in the airtight lid in accordancewith one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the airtight container assembly mountedon the control system in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the airtight container assembly inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5a is a side view of the two stage opening mechanism in the closedposition in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5b is a side view of the two stage opening mechanism in the firststage open position in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5c is a side view of the two stage opening mechanism in the fullopen position in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the check valve that can be engaged toenable pressure sensing and two way gas flow in order to perform theautomated gas pressurization and vent sequence and disengaged to allowsealing in order to maintain pressure when removing the airtightcontainer from the control system in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the control system in accordance withone embodiment.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 airtight container assembly-   11 airtight container body-   20 airtight lid-   30 lid connection mechanism-   40 two stage opening mechanism-   41 latch lever-   42 latch hook-   43 lever-latch connector rod-   44 latch pivot guide-   45 latch pivot pin-   46 latch mounting bands-   50 check valve-   60 check valve body-   70 check valve bolt-   80 check valve nut-   90 check valve spring-   100 check valve inner seal-   110 check valve outer seal-   130 control system interface plate-   135 pivot-   136 lever-   140 tank for inert gas or CO2-   150 pressure regulator-   160 vent valve-   170 pressure switch-   180 gas delivery valve-   190 gas delivery line-   195 gas vent line-   200 tube-   210 filter-   220 pressure seal-   230 on/off power switch-   240 control switch-   250 electronic controller-   260 control system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 Through 7—First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus withmobile reusable airtight container assembly (10) which utilizespressurized gas to maintain freshness of roasted coffee beans orgrounds. The apparatus has an airtight container assembly (10) forholding roasted coffee beans or grounds in the optimum storageenvironment of pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas and low residual oxygenand moisture concentrations. The airtight container assembly (10) ismounted on a control system (260) which also houses a tank for inert gasor CO2 (140). In other embodiments larger tanks for inert gas or CO2 canbe located outside of the control system (260). Also shown on thecontrol system in FIG. 1 are an on/off power switch (230) and controlswitch (240).

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the airtight lid (20) and apressure seal (220) that is contained within a groove in the airtightlid (20). The pressure seal (220) constitutes a means for repeatedlycreating an airtight seal between the airtight lid (20) and the airtightcontainer body (11). The airtight lid (20) of one embodiment is made ofaluminum, however the airtight lid (20) can be made of other suitablerigid materials such as glass, plastic, stainless steel or tinplatewhich are able to safely tolerate the operating pressure range of1.1-2.2 atmospheres. The pressure seal (220) of one embodiment is ano-ring made from a typical o-ring material such as viton. In otherembodiments the pressure seal (220) can be made of other suitablematerials such as silicone rubber and can have other suitable shapessuch as a gasket. In other embodiments, the pressure seal (220) can belocated at the top edge of the airtight container body (11).

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the control system (260) and theairtight container assembly (10) mounted on the control system (260).Two securing mechanism assemblies of one embodiment are mounted on thecontrol system (260) and are comprised of a pivot (135) and a lever(136). In other embodiments the securing mechanism assemblies can havealternate designs such as a latch. There is a filter (210) installed onthe top of check valve (50). The check valve (50) is mounted in contactwith the control system interface plate (130) that has a raised area inalignment with the center of the check valve (50).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the airtight container assembly (10)comprising airtight container body (11) and airtight lid (20) which isattached to the airtight container body (11) by the lid connectionmechanism (30). The two stage opening mechanism (40) is attached to thelatch mounting bands (46) near the top of the airtight container body(11). The check valve (50) and filter (210) are installed at the bottomof the airtight container body (11). The airtight container body (11) ofone embodiment is made of a rigid plastic material, such aspolycarbonate, which is able to safely tolerate the operating pressurerange of 1.1-2.2 atmospheres and is compatible with the storage ofroasted coffee beans or grounds. In other embodiments the airtightcontainer body (11) can be made of other suitable materials such asglass, aluminum, stainless steel or tinplate.

FIG. 5a is a side view of one embodiment of the two stage openingmechanism (40) comprising a latch lever (41) shown in the closedposition, latch hook (42), lever-latch connector rod (43), latch pivotguide (44), latch pivot pin (45) and latch mounting bands (46).

FIG. 5b is a side view of one embodiment of the two stage openingmechanism (40) showing the latch lever (41), in the first stage openposition with lever-latch connector rod (43) at the stop ledge featurein the latch mounting bands (46).

FIG. 5c is a side view of one embodiment of the two stage openingmechanism (40) showing the latch lever (41) in its fully open positionwith the latch pivot pin (45) at the top of the slotted area of thelatch lever (41).

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the check valve(50). The check valve (50) is constructed of a check valve body (60),inside of which there are a check valve bolt (70) which is connected toa check valve nut (80). There is a check valve spring (90) located underthe head of the check valve bolt (70), a check valve inner seal (100)located above the check valve nut (80), and a check valve outer seal(110) located below the head of the check valve body (60).

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the control system (260). An electroniccontroller (250) is shown mounted to the bottom of the control system(260). The bottom side of the control system interface plate (130)opposite the interface with check valve (50) show in FIG. 3 is connectedto a gas delivery line (190) which is connected by a tee connection onone side to a gas vent line (195) and a vent valve (160) and on theother side to a gas delivery valve (180) and a pressure regulator (150).The pressure regulator (150) is connected to a tank for inert gas or CO2(140). Another tee connection upstream of vent valve (160) is connectedto a tube (200) which is connected to a pressure switch (170).

Operation

The manner of using the apparatus with mobile reusable airtightcontainer assembly (10) which utilizes pressurized gas to maintainfreshness of roasted coffee beans or grounds, shown in FIG. 1, is tofill the airtight container assembly (10) with fresh roasted coffeebeans or grounds, then close and secure the airtight lid (20) with thetwo stage opening mechanism (40). The airtight lid (20) contains apressure seal (220) that is compressed by a downforce from the airtightlid (20) when secured by the two stage opening mechanism (40). Thissealing system creates a seal that is capable of preventing pressurizedinert gas or CO2 gas from leaking out of the airtight container assembly(10) over the operating pressure range of 1.1-2.2 atmospheres. Thisability to maintain a pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas environmentoffers significant benefits for maintaining the freshness of roastedcoffee beans or grounds in terms of aroma and taste. First, thepressurized environment reduces the diffusion forces which drive therelease of volatile aroma compounds and CO2 from roasted coffee beans orgrounds under normal atmospheric conditions. Also, the pressurizedenvironment allows for a larger portion of the volatile aroma compoundsto be dissolved in the lipid phase or to bind to melanoidins within theroasted coffee beans or grounds. This aspect also helps to create asmooth body in the resultant brewed coffee.

The airtight container assembly (10) is placed on the control system(260) and secured in place by rotating the levers (136) about the pivots(135) by 90 degrees such that the levers (136) will be above the bottomsection of the airtight container assembly (10). The levers (136) arethen rotated downward. The levers (136) have an off center rotationpoint (not shown) that allows for tightening and loosening against thebottom section of the airtight container assembly (10). With the levers(136) in the down position, the airtight container assembly (10) issecured to the control system baseplate (130) with sufficient force forthe raised area on the control system baseplate (130) to open the checkvalve (50). With the check valve (50) open, gas can flow in and out ofthe airtight container assembly (10) when commanded to do so by thecontrol system (260). Also, the pressure within the airtight containerassembly (10) can be sensed through the open check valve (50) by thepressure switch (170).

Set the on/off power switch (230) to the “On” position. Then set thecontrol switch (240) to the “Preserve” position. This signals thecontrol system (260) to automatically run a series of pressurization andvent steps with a final pressurization step. Each pressurization stepconsists of pressurizing the airtight container assembly (10) with inertgas or CO2 gas up to a preset pressure P1 that is between 1.1-2.2atmospheres as determined by the pressure switch (170). Thepressurization steps occur when the gas delivery valve (180) is opened,thus allowing pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas from the tank for inertgas or CO2 (140) to flow through the pressure regulator (150), gasdelivery line (190), check valve (50) and filter (210) into the airtightcontainer assembly (10). Each vent step consists of venting the inertgas or CO2 gas along with air from the airtight container assembly (10)down to a 2nd preset pressure P2, where 1 atmosphere<P2<P1, that can bedetermined by the pressure switch (170) or a timed vent step. The ventsteps occur when the gas delivery valve (180) is closed and vent valve(160) is opened, thus allowing the inert gas or CO2 gas along with airto exit the airtight container assembly (10) through the filter (210),check valve (50), gas delivery line (190) and vent valve (160). Thefilter (210) prevents transport of debris, such as coffee grounds, thatcould disrupt function, into the gas transport system which includes thecheck valve (50), gas delivery valve (180), vent valve (160), pressureregulator (150) and pressure switch (170). This sequence ofpressurization and vent steps is repeated a specific number of timesfollowed by a final pressurization step, all of which are pre-programmedinto the electronic controller (250). Pressurization of the airtightcontainer assembly (10) with inert gas or CO2 gas causes a reduction ofthe oxygen and moisture concentrations within the airtight containerassembly (10) that is proportional to the level of pressurization.Venting of the inert gas or CO2 gas along with air and repeating thepressurization causes a further reduction of the oxygen and moistureconcentrations within the airtight container assembly (10). Repeatingthis pressurization and vent sequence a specific number of times, withthe final step being pressurization, results in the optimum storagecondition for fresh roasted coffee beans or grounds within the airtightcontainer assembly (10) of pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas between1.1-2.2 atmospheres, a specific low oxygen concentration between 0.1%-4%and a commensurate several fold reduction in moisture concentration.This ability to create a pressurized inert gas or CO2 environment and toreduce the residual oxygen concentration to a specified level andsignificantly reduce the moisture concentration within the airtightcontainer assembly (10) offers significant benefits to maintainingfreshness of roasted coffee beans or grounds in terms of aroma and tastesince the pressurized environment reduces the diffusion forces whichdrive the release of volatile aroma compounds and CO2 from roastedcoffee beans or grounds and the low oxygen and moisture concentrationsgreatly reduce the rate of oxidation of the volatile aroma compounds andlipids within roasted coffee beans or grounds.

In order to remove a portion of the roasted coffee beans or grounds fromthe airtight container assembly (10) for brewing coffee, the controlswitch (240) is set to the “Vent” position. This signals the electroniccontroller (250) to activate vent valve (160) which releases thepressurized inert gas or CO2 gas from the airtight container assembly(10). A timer on the electronic controller (250) allows sufficient timefor the pressure in the airtight container assembly (10) to reachatmospheric pressure and then signals the electronic controller (250) tostop the vent procedure by closing vent valve (160). At this time theairtight lid (20) may be opened. The user opens airtight lid (20) bydisengaging the two stage opening mechanism (40) and removes the desiredportion of roasted coffee beans or grounds for brewing coffee.

To disengage the two stage opening mechanism (40), the user lifts up onthe latch lever (41). This first stage motion causes the lever-latchconnector rod (43) to move outward along a notched area in the latchmounting bands (46) until it reaches a stop ledge feature as shown inFIG. 5b . At this position, a small opening is created between theairtight lid (20) and the airtight container body (11) that allows thepressurized inert gas or CO2 gas to leak out safely in case the user hasforgotten to vent the airtight container assembly (10) prior to openingthe airtight lid (20). The user then continues to lift latch lever (41)in a second stage motion which causes a slotted area in latch lever (41)to move in a downward pivoting motion that is guided by latch pivot pin(45). Concurrently, the lever-latch connector rod (43) moves outwardaway from the airtight container body (11) until it passes the stopledge feature on the mounting bands (46) and reaches its fully openposition as shown in FIG. 5 c.

Once the desired amount of roasted coffee beans or grounds have beenremoved, the user can close the airtight lid (20), secure the two stageopening mechanism (40) and set control switch (240) to the “Preserve”position in order to once again run the automated series ofpressurization and vent steps with a final pressurization step. Thiscycle for storage of roasted coffee beans or grounds and removal of aportion of the roasted coffee beans or grounds to brew coffee can takeplace as many times as desired by the user.

For the mobile aspect of the apparatus, an airtight container assembly(10) that has completed the series of pressurization and vent steps andis in the optimum storage condition, can be removed from the controlsystem (260) by lifting upwards on levers (136) which secure theairtight container assembly (10) to the control system (260). The levers(136) are then rotated via pivots (135) 90 degrees away from theairtight container assembly (10). The airtight container assembly (10)can now be removed from control system (260) and set aside for storagewhile filled with roasted coffee beans or grounds in the pressurizedstate. The airtight container assembly (10) can also be removed from thecontrol system (260) in a non-pressurized state by turning the controlswitch (240) to the “Vent” position before beginning the procedure justdescribed. This would be done in order to carry an empty airtightcontainer assembly (10) to a coffee house for re-filling with freshroasted coffee beans or grounds and processing to the optimum storagecondition. The airtight container assembly (10) can then be placed backon the control system (260) and secured in place using the reverse ofthe removal steps described above.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the reader will see that the apparatus with mobile reusableairtight container assembly which utilizes pressurized gas to maintainfreshness of roasted coffee beans or grounds can significantly extendthe time that freshness of roasted coffee beans or grounds in terms ofaroma and taste is maintained while allowing for periodic opening of theairtight container assembly to remove portions of the roasted coffeebeans or grounds to brew coffee as frequently as desired by the user.This is accomplished by incorporating design features into the apparatuswhich are capable of repeatedly creating the optimum storage conditionthat counteracts the key mechanisms responsible for the staling of freshroasted coffee beans or grounds, namely the release of volatile aromacompounds and CO2 from the fresh roasted coffee beans or grounds and theoxidation of volatile aroma compounds and lipids within the freshroasted coffee beans or grounds. The optimum storage condition beingpressurized inert gas or CO2 gas and low residual oxygen and moistureconcentrations. This is accomplished by providing an airtight containerassembly and airtight lid along with means of repeatedly forming anairtight seal which will hold the inert gas or CO2 gas at pressuresbetween 1.1 and 2.2 atmospheres. Furthermore, the apparatus has anelectronically controlled valve and pressure switch system that canrepeatedly execute an automated procedure consisting of multiple stepsof pressurization with inert gas or CO2 gas and venting of the inert gasor CO2 gas along with air, with a final step of pressurization withinert gas or CO2 gas. This automated procedure enables the apparatus toconsistently achieve the optimum storage condition of pressurized inertgas or CO2 gas with low residual oxygen and moisture concentrationswithin the airtight container assembly.

This optimum storage condition counteracts the staling mechanisms listedabove as follows. The pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas environmentwithin the airtight container assembly significantly reduces thediffusion forces acting upon the volatile aroma compounds and CO2 withinthe fresh roasted coffee beans or grounds, therefore reducing the rateof release of volatile aroma compounds and CO2 from the fresh roastedcoffee beans or grounds. Due to the low residual oxygen and moistureconcentrations, there is a significantly reduced availability ofreactant, namely oxygen, which therefore reduces the rate of oxidationof volatile aroma compounds and lipids within the fresh roasted coffeebeans or grounds. Also, since the current apparatus provides means tocreate the optimum storage condition for fresh roasted coffee beans orgrounds of inert gas or CO2 gas at pressures between 1.1 and 2.2atmospheres and low residual oxygen and moisture concentrations withinthe airtight container assembly upon closure after each time it isopened by the user to remove a portion of the roasted coffee beans orgrounds in order to brew coffee, the apparatus can avoid the problem ofrapid staling of the roasted coffee beans or grounds due to a new doseof air containing 21% oxygen and a moisture concentration that isdependent on the local relative humidity, being allowed into theairtight container assembly at each opening. Thus, for the coffeedrinker who appreciates high quality aroma and taste in the final brew,the fresh aroma and taste of the roasted coffee beans or groundsrequired to produce such a high quality brew can be maintained forsignificantly longer periods of time than is possible with conventionalstorage means, by utilizing in the apparatus described herein.

Another advantage of the present apparatus is the unique two stageopening mechanism for the airtight lid. This allows for safe usage ofthe pressurized airtight container assembly in cases where a userforgets to vent the pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas before opening theairtight container assembly to remove a portion of the roasted coffeebeans or grounds in order to brew coffee.

The mobile aspect of the airtight container assembly is enabled byincorporating a check valve into the design. This allows for theairtight container assembly to be removed from and replaced back on thecontrol system as many times as desired by the user while internallymaintaining the optimum storage condition of pressurized inert gas orCO2 gas with low residual oxygen and moisture concentrations. This hasthe advantage of allowing a user to store as much roasted coffee beansor grounds as desired by utilizing multiple airtight containerassemblies. This has the further advantage of allowing the user to putnewly purchased fresh roasted coffee beans or grounds into the optimalstorage condition of pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas and low residualoxygen and moisture concentrations at the point of purchase. This isbecause coffee houses can have a control system and an inert gas or CO2tank on their premises and offer to perform the automated sequence ofpressurization and vent cycles with a final step of pressurization as aservice for their customers.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments, but as merelyproviding illustrations of some of several embodiments. For example, theapparatus can have other shapes such as spherical and various sizeseither smaller or larger.

Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appendedclaims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for preventing staling ofroasted coffee beans or grounds due to oxidation and loss of volatiles,comprising: a control system, and an airtight container assembly, thatis reusable, and is removably attached to said control system, saidcontrol system comprising: a tank, for holding pressurized inert gas orCO2, a control system interface plate, a pressure regulator, a gasdelivery valve, a gas delivery line, a gas vent line, a vent valve, apressure switch, an electronic controller, configured in communicationwith said pressure switch, said gas delivery valve, and said vent valve,to perform an automated process of a specific number of alternatingpressurization and vent steps which progressively dilute the ambientoxygen within said airtight container assembly, by utilizing inert gasor CO2 gas from said tank to create a pressurized mixture of inert gasor CO2 gas and ambient air within said airtight container assembly ateach of the pressurization steps, which is then released by each ventstep, the final step being pressurization, resulting in the ambientoxygen being diluted to a level between 0.1%-4% and a storage pressurein the range of 1.1 to 2.2 atmospheres, within said airtight containerassembly, two pivots, mounted on opposite sides of said control systeminterface plate, two levers, disposed at the tops of said two pivots,said levers are provided with an off center rotation point in order totighten against the bottom section of said airtight container assemblywhen rotated downward, whereby securing said airtight container assemblyto said control system at said control system interface plate, saidairtight container assembly comprising: an airtight container body, anairtight lid, an o-ring, for creating an airtight seal between saidairtight lid and said airtight container body, a hinge, connecting saidairtight lid with said airtight container body, a two stage openingmechanism, for opening and securing said airtight lid with said airtightcontainer body, comprising: a latch lever, a latch hook, a lever-latchconnector rod, a latch pivot guide, a latch pivot pin, latch mountingbands, said latch mounting bands having a stop ledge featurecommunicating with a slotted area in said latch lever and saidlever-latch connector rod, thereby preventing an abrupt opening of saidairtight lid if opened when said airtight container assembly ispressurized, characterized by lifting said latch lever in a first stagemotion resulting in said lever-latch connector rod moving outward alongsaid latch mounting bands until reaching said stop ledge feature,resulting in a small opening between said airtight lid and said airtightcontainer body while maintaining connection of said latch hook with saidairtight lid, for initial pressure release, followed by continuing tolift said latch lever in a second stage motion, said slotted area insaid latch lever moves in a downward pivoting motion about said latchpivot pin, concurrently, said lever-latch connector rod moves furtheroutward past said stop ledge feature, enabling said latch lever to beraised to a completely open position, a check valve, comprising: a checkvalve body, a check valve bolt, a check valve nut, a check valve spring,a check valve inner seal, a check valve outer seal, wherein said checkvalve is disposed at the bottom of said airtight container body, and isopened by the force of a raised area on said control system interfaceplate communicating with said check valve bolt when said airtightcontainer assembly is secured to said control system, whereby enablingtwo way gas flow and pressure monitoring within said airtight containerassembly, and when said airtight container assembly is removed from saidcontrol system, said check valve closes, producing an airtight seal dueto force from said check valve spring creating contact between saidcheck valve inner seal and said check valve body, whereby protecting thecontents of said airtight container assembly from the externalatmosphere, a filter, disposed on top of said check valve for preventingtransport of debris, for example, coffee grounds into said controlsystem.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said airtight containerassembly has an opening of sufficient size to allow a user to easilyfill said airtight container assembly with roasted coffee beans orgrounds for storage and to easily remove a portion of the roasted coffeebeans or grounds for brewing coffee.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said airtight container body is made of a rigid material whichis able to safely tolerate an operating pressure range of 1.1-2.2atmospheres, selected from the material group consisting of,polycarbonate, glass, aluminum, stainless steel or tinplate.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said airtight lid is made of a rigidmaterial which is able to safely tolerate an operating pressure range of1.1-2.2 atmospheres, selected from the material group consisting of,polycarbonate, glass, aluminum, stainless steel or tinplate.